Authors: Stone, A. Brace, A. And Faulkner, C.

1. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Locus of Control and Information-Seeking Behaviour. Authors: Stone, A. Brace, A. And Faulkner, C. contact: u0801774@uel.ac.uk Introduction: Figure 1: likelihood of using a particular source on the left axis, and satisfaction with the source on the right axis (0 = none, 1 = some, 2 = very much). Complementary and alternative medicine (discussed as CAM), refers to the use of medicines, therapies or techniques that do not fall within the remit of practices that have been consistently scientifically proven to have measurable benefit. A review of health and treatment decisions showed that an estimated 28.3% of adults currently utilise alternative medicines of some kind (Thomas et al, 2001) and 46.6% have used them at some time in their life (Thomas et al, 2002). Diaz et al (2002) suggested that over half of CAM users fail to disclose it with their medical professional. This suggests that potentially half of CAM users are seeking their own sources of information. Henderson and Donnatelle (2003) reported a significant positive correlation between Internal Locus of Control and CAM use. Burnstein (2000) suggested that this use of CAM is ‘having greater control over one’s destiny’. Hypotheses H1: It is hypothesised that other sources of information will be equally or more important than health care professionals. H2: It is hypothesised that people will use the sources with which they are most satisfied, so among the different sources, usage will be related to satisfaction. H3: People high in ‘internal’ health locus of control will be satisfied with information received from sources they can engage in discussion as equals. H4: People high in ‘powerful others’ health locus of control will be more satisfied with Doctors and consult them more as a source of information. Discussion / Summary The three most commonly cited sources of information were friends/family, doctors and the use of the internet, which supports the first hypothesis. Although previous research has suggested that internal LoC may predict usage of CAM, it may be powerful others LoC that has a role to play in deciding to which sources users may consult and how satisfied they are with the information received. This is demonstrated in these results, for instance, those in the high powerful others LoC group consulted doctors marginally significantly more than those in the low group, which supports hypothesis 4. There was a significant correlation between levels of satisfaction in a source and levels of use, which supports hypothesis 2. It seems as though the relationship between satisfaction and usage is consistent with research surrounding internal LoC in CAM users. People are consulting those sources of information they find most satisfying because the choice of who to consult is in the hand of the patient; once people have decided to find their own information and not consult their doctor, their sources are largely under their control This research suggests that users who consult friends and family and are satisfied with their information may have higher internal locus of control, and participants who consult the internet and are satisfied have less trust in doctors. These results support hypothesis 3. This suggests that different locus’ of control may be associated with satisfaction with different sources e.g. internal LoC is associated with greater satisfaction with information from friends/family and the internet which could be due to the personalised nature of the interaction with friends/family, and with the increased controlled navigation of the internet. This is also the case for powerful others’ LoC and the association with satisfaction with information from a doctor. For example, those in the high PO LoC group were significantly more satisfied with the information received from doctors than the low group, which further supports hypothesis 4. Interestingly, the results of this study do support the work of Diaz et al (2002) who suggested that the majority of CAM users do not consult with their doctors. For example, although doctors were one of the most commonly used sources, only around 40% of CAM users cited them. To conclude, it appears that the 3 most cited sources are also the 3 sources that people are reportedly finding most satisfactory (see figure 1.0). It may be individual differences in Locus of Control that determines where people receive their health information, and what information they feel most satisfied with. Method Participants (n=187) were invited to take part via social networking sites and forums in which the research link was posted. This link lead the participant to an online survey, launched via Survey Gizmo. The online questionnaire consisted of Wallston’s Health Locus of Control (Based on Rotter). Also included was a series of questions enquiring as to whether the participant has used CAM, what sources of information they have used prior to using or not using CAM, and how satisfied they felt the source was. Also included were basic demographic questions. Results People were more likely to consult friends and family than a doctor, paired-samples t(186) = 4.90, p < 0.05, (please see Figure 1.0) People were equally likely to consult the internet and their doctor. Other sources were less likely to be used, e.g. the difference between doctor and TV was significant, paired-samples t(186) 3.09, p=0.03. Regarding H2, Figure 1.0 suggests a relationship between likelihood of using a source and satisfaction with the information received. A bivariate correlation was significant, r(4) = 0.96, p < 0.005. H3 was investigated using bivariate correlations between ‘internal’ health locus of control and satisfaction with sources who can be engaged as equals, i.e. Friend & Family and Internet. The correlation of ‘internal’ health LoC with satisfaction with Friends & Family was significant, r(71) = 0.31, p < 0.01, and with satisfaction with the Internet was marginally significant, r(40) = 0.22, p < 0.08 H4 was investigated using bivariate correlation between ‘external’ health locus of control and satisfaction with information received from doctors. The correlation was marginally significant, r (37) = 0.24, p < 0.08. A median split was performed to categorise CAM users into low or high powerful others LoC groups. A non-parametric test for 2 independent samples showed that the high P.O LoC group was marginally more likely to use doctors as a source of information U(97) = 987, Z = -1.53, p = .127, and was significantly more satisfied with information received from doctors U(97) = 941, Z = -1.96, p = .05. Interestingly, though this was not predicted, there was a negative correlation between ‘powerful other’ locus of control and satisfaction with information received from the internet, r(40) = -0.35, p < 0.05. This suggests that perhaps those who were least trusting of their doctors were more satisfied with information received from the internet. References Goldbeck-Wood S, Dorozynski A, Lie Lg, (1996). Complementary medicine is booming worldwide BMJ Henderson, J. & Donatelle, B. (2003). The Relationship between Cancer Locus of Control and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Journal of Psycho-Oncology, 12(1) Thomas KJ, Nicholl JP, Fall M. (2001) Access to complementary medicine via general practice. Br J Gen Pract 2001; 51 Wallston, K. A., Wallston, B. S., DeVellis, R. (1978) Development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales. Health Education Monographs, Warner, D. A. & Procaccino, J. D. (2007).  Women Seeking Health Information: Distinguishing The Web User.   Journal of Health Communication, 12 (8) References: Kosslyn, S. M., & www.uel.ac.uk/psychology